The Coming Century of War Against Your Computer.

There is a war going on for control of your computer. Little things like Apple’s control of what can be added to their app store, Windows 11 not being permitted to be installed on machines that don’t have a Trusted Platform Module, and Linux phasing the ability to run on 32-bit machines.

Laws imposed by governments have forced even the little guy, like us, to put in place Cookie Agreements and tell you exactly what our websites collect from your devices when you visit us when the majority of us only care where our traffic is coming from and want to be able to give you advertisements to help fund our endeavors (even if we use click-through advertising, it doesn’t add up quickly). Search engine giants have forced us to use SSL certificates or not have our sites added to their search results. Social Media Platforms watch-dogging what is said on them to the extent when speaking out against things can get your post removed and have your account suspended if they deem that you are spreading “the wrong kind of information.”

This is just the tip of the iceberg heading towards your devices and social media platforms, all in the name of ensuring your security and weeding out disinformation or so they say.

The war against computer freedom will just keep escalating, Doctorow contends. The copyright wars, net neutrality, and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) were early samples of what is to come. Victories in those battles were temporary. Conflict in the decades ahead will feature ever higher stakes, more convoluted issues, and far more powerful technology. The debate is about how civilization decides to conduct itself and in whose interests.
“Cory Doctorow is one of the great context-setters of our generation,” says Tim O’Reilly. Co-editor of the acclaimed blog “Boing Boing,” Doctorow writes contemporary science fiction blending contextual insight with journalistic depth. His recent books include For the Win; Makers; and Little Brother.
Long Now and the Electronic Frontier Foundation bring Cory Doctorow to San Francisco for a glimpse into the future of computing and the increasing fight for control over our freedom both online and offline.